Mining technology tested in Yukon uses particles from space to see underground

By Caitrin Pilkington – CBC News

The Yukon’s Macmillan Pass was one of the first regions to see subatomic particles used to view the earth’s subsurface. 

The technique promises to cut down on the time, cost and environmental impact of exploratory drilling – the traditional way of figuring out what’s underground. It’s taking off in the mining industry, with major companies like Rio Tinto now using the technology.

The project to develop and test the technology received over $21 million from a federal program created to support and drive Canadian innovation. The funding went to a consortium of partners, including Simon Fraser University, the Vancouver-based company Ideon Technologies, and Fireweed Metals, a mining company.